Glucose-assisted synthesis of the hierarchical TiO2 nanowire@MoS2 nanosheet nanocomposite and its synergistic lithium storage performance

A hierarchical nanocomposite of TiO2 nanowires decorated with molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (TiO2@MoS2) was synthesized by a facile and low-cost glucose-assisted hydrothermal approach. In this hierarchical nanocomposite, TiO2 nanowires served as an effective backbone for the nucleation and growth of few layered MoS2 nanosheets. Both glucose and the roughness of anatase-TiO2 (B) nanowires played important roles in the formation of the uniform TiO2 nanowire@MoS2 nanosheet (<= 6 layers) nanocomposite. A synergistic effect was demonstrated on the nanocomposite of the TiO2 nanowire@MoS2 nanosheet. The one-dimensional robust TiO2 nanowire backbone provided a shortened and efficient pathway for electron and lithium ion transport and minimized the strain of the volume changes, while ultrathin MoS2 nanosheets offered high electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact areas, promoted rapid charge transfer and contributed to a high specific capacity. The favourable synergistic effect led to enhanced specific capacity, good cycling stability and superior rate capability of the nanocomposite, compared with either individual component. Such a TiO2 nanowire@ MoS2 nanosheet nanocomposite is a promising anode material for high performance lithium ion batteries.